GUEST POST: RIP Zayn, I guess.

Hi, PMS readers. This is a guest blog from my friend and former co-worker Chantal. We both dated men with the same name, so we are forever linked. Enjoy.

Hi, I’m Chantal Espinoza and I’m a Directioner.

I’ve been a fan since April 2012 when “What Makes You
Beautiful” started hitting airwaves. My first memory of the song is when my
friends and I were on our way to a party during my freshman year.

Since then,
I’ve been hooked.

That summer, my best friend and fellow Directioner Aubrey
rigged a radio contest to win meet and greet passes to see them at Dallas’ Gexa
Pavillion. While the experience mostly consisted of us sitting in the Texas
heat for almost an hour and us freaking out about our make up and hair ­– we
did get to spend a good two minutes with the boys. We hugged and fell in love
with each one of them. Since then, I’ve seen them in Denver, CO in 2013 and
recently in August in Arlington at Cowboy Stadium (I refuse to call it AT&T
Stadium).

Needless to say, I’ve had more interaction with Zayn Malik
than the average person. So when I say I’m angry and upset about the news he’s
leaving One Direction, it’s coming from a person who’s maintained a close
relationship with him.

My dear best friend Emily de Santos informed me of this
#BreakingNews while I was on a work lunch with my colleagues and a client.

I was supposed to be interacting and participating in an
engaging conversation, but in my head I was trying to understand what that all
meant and if it was really true.

Not that I was doubting Emily or anything, but E! News
sometimes gets bad info, right? So I texted Aubrey, who is all knowing on
anything and everything One Direction, and she confirmed the news to me.

Being as I couldn’t really be on my phone and confirm it to
myself, I was freaking out internally. I had to collect myself and pretend this
wasn’t happening.

Back story: Zayn decided to take a break from the 1D world tour,
which is currently performing the Asian leg of the tour. This all comes after
photos were released of him holding hands and hugging some random girl with
blonde hair that wasn’t his fiancé Perrie Edwards of Little Mix.

His statement read he was to fly back to London and
recuperate from “stress.” OK. We’ve all been stressed. When I’m stressed, I go
get my nails done or go shopping – not quit my job.

However, I get being accused of cheating on your future wife
would make things a tad more stressful, but that’s when you either 1. Admit you
cheated and move on. 2. Call your fiancé, who is also a pop singer, tell her
“Babe, this was just blown out of proportion like the last time I allegedly
cheated on you and let’s let this one blow over, too.” 3.Do number 2 and she doesn’t believe you. Tweet
you’re just a 22-year-old who loves his fiancé and is just trying to live his
life. Then take a break from your super successful band that’s making you super
rich BUT NO LET’S HALT ALL THAT so you can fly to London grovel for forgiveness
and see if that works.

Zayn chose number three and as we can see that must’ve not
gone as planned, because today he announced he was leaving the band.

Now that we’re all caught up, in his statement he said he
wants to be a “normal 22-year-old.” I’m a normal 22-year-old, and let me tell
you, it’s not fun!

Does Zayn really think because he quit the band, his fiancé
will think he’s serious and not leave him? Or that because he’s not in an
international boy band he’s going to be out of the spotlight – the answer is
no, at least to the second question.

It’s irrational to think his departure from the band is
going to bring him inner peace. He is out of a job. A job that earned him
millions. If he can’t handle the media scrutiny now, there is no way in hell
he’s going to handle it as a solo artist.

Many fans claim Zayn is the sensitive one who was always
really shy and reserved, hated the spotlight – OK. You know what those type of
people don’t do? Those people don’t become a member of a boy band that’s
designed to be followed by millions of girls and expected to have a media
following.

Zayn joined anyway, which is fine. Who wouldn’t? This is a
massive opportunity.

What could keep you out of the spotlight is to not hold
hands with a girl that’s not your girlfriend in a world were paparazzi is
everywhere and everyone has a phone.

He should’ve just taken the wrath and dealt with it like
every other mainstream musician has. Go smoke pot. It’s not like he doesn’t do
it already.

Quitting the band entirely seems like the biggest slap in
the face of 1D fans. They spend a fortune to see the boys goof off and perform
their favorite songs. Now they’re stuck still paying a fortune to see just four
members.

rip.

I feel no pity for Zayn. He made all of this mess for
himself.

JUST DON’T CHEAT ON YOUR FIANCE (and get caught). It’s that
simple.

I do feel the pain of every Directioner, who now has to feel
the pain Spice Girls fans felt when Ginger left.

All Zayn had to do is stick with the band until December
when their contract ended. They all could’ve broken up and it would’ve been a
clean, less humiliating break. But that’s not how it worked out.

Harry, Liam, Louis and Niall can, and will, continue to be
successful without him. It’s just unfair he left his “lifetime” friends to hang
out and dry. They’re the ones who have to deal with this whole mess while he’s
hanging out in his house spray painting on walls.

However, these boys know how to handle the media. We’ve all
seen the boys handle their respective dramas and move on from it, especially
Harry.

Now that the weak link has left, I expect the next 1D album
to be their last. This is their opportunity to position themselves for life
post-1D.

Harry is probably going to date an up incoming actress or
model to bump his popularity, and solidify himself as the next JT. Niall will schmooze
his way into a good endorsement deal or act. Liam will try a solo career, fail,
become the JC of the group and be a judge on The Voice. Louis will buy a soccer
team and maybe host a show, or come out idk.

Time will only tell if Zayn made the right decision. I
wonder if his fiancé will stay with him and if the band will be as successful
without him.

In the meantime, I will fork over $200 and buy plane tickets
to see them in San Diego in July for what I can only assume will be their last
tour.

My thoughts are with all of the Directioners out there. May
your friends respect your privacy in this time of hardship.